POST MGT303 ALL UNIT ASSIGNMENTS [ EXCEPT UNIT 6 ] AND ALL RESEARCH PAPER

Briefly answer the following questions. This and all future assignments are due midnight on Sunday (except for the Unit 8 assignment which will be due on Saturday, the last day of class.)

1. What is meant by labor relations?
2. Explain how unions are simultaneously economic and political organizations.
3. What is a spillover?
4. What is the greatest challenge facing private sector unions?
5. Briefly describe the historical impact of the Knights of Labor.
6. Briefly describe the historical importance of the Danbury Hatters boycott case.
7. Briefly explain the concept of exclusive representation established by the Wagner Act.
8. What was the major responsibility of the National Labor Relations Board?
9. Select for my approval one of the following topics for your paper # 1 due in Unit 3:

1. Why and How U.S. Labor Unions Seek to Influence Federal, State and Local Politics.
2. How Global Competitiveness Affects Labor/Management Relations.
3. How Right-to-Work Laws Affects Labor/Management Relations.
4. An Analysis of the Proposed Federal Employee Free Choice Act
5. Union Support Craft Jurisdictional Conflict and Restrictive Work Practices
6. How Technology Affects Labor/Management Relations
7. Select a Union and research its history and current status -- the name of the union is required.

UNIT

2

Briefly answer the following questions:

1. What are the 5 general purposes of the Railway labor Act?
2. What does the Norris-LaGuardia Act enable?
3. Describe the National Labor Relations Board.
4. Explain the concept of "duty to bargain."
5. What are the responsibilities of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service?
6. Explain what trade treaties are intended to achieve.
7. Briefly explain the responsibilities and qualifications of a union steward.
8. Briefly describe the structure of national unions.
9. Select for my approval one of the following topics for your paper # 2 due unit 5:

1. What is the Stereotypical Image of Unions Today and How is it Affecting Their Organizing Activities?
2. What are the Standard Organizing Strategies and Tactics of Unions Today and How Effective Are They?
3. What are the Standard Union Avoidance Strategies and Tactics Today and How Effective Are They?
4. How and Why Did the U.S. Automobile Industry Need To Be Bailed Out?
5. How Has Global Competition Affected Labor/Management Relations in the U.S.?
6. How Has the Aging of Our U.S. Population Affected Labor/Management Relations?
7. Submit a Topic of Your Choice 

UNIT 3

Briefly answer the following homework questions on or before Sunday. Your Research Paper #1 is also due on Sunday (submit your paper below.)

1. How can Unions secure economic gains? Explain the ramifications.
2. Briefly explain why organized labor was opposed to NAFTA.
3. List the forms that Union political action can take.
4. Briefly explain endorsements and get-out-the-vote drives.
5. List the factors that the NLRB considers to determine a bargaining unit.
6. Explain the communication-related rule during organizing campaigns.
7. Explain the process and implications of election certifications.
8. Select for my approval one of the following topics for your paper # 3 due in unit 7:

1. The Implications of Global Competitiveness on U.S. Unionization
2. The Implications of Generational Culture Changes on U.S. Unionization.
3. The Implications of the Great Recession of 2008 on U.S. Unionization.
4. The Implications of Technological Change on U.S. Unionization.
5. The Implications of Public Sector Unionization on the U.S. Economy.
6. Select a topic of your choosing for my approval.

UNIT 4

Briefly answer the following homework questions on or before Sunday.

1. Provide a brief write-up about capitalists vis-à-vis workers.
2. Explain how shareholder value decreases following unionization.
3. Briefly discuss the areas of difference between companies with an explicit union avoidance policy and those without.
4. Explain de-certifications, their implications, and their influence.
5. Describe the characteristics of a competitive industry.
6. List some of the steps that a firm can take to increase profitability.
7. How do unions demonstrate their effectiveness?
8. What is the reason for a decline in pattern bargaining?

UNIT 5

Briefly answer the following homework questions on or before Sunday. Your Paper # 2 is also due on Sunday (submitted below).

1. Which factors influence a firm's ability to pay?
2. List the rules of ERISA that employers with pension plans must comply with.
3. Which characteristics of grade structures must be negotiated?
4. Why was the Fair Labor Standards Act enacted?
5. Why are grievance procedures a high-priority bargaining issue for unions? Explain with an example.
6. What is meant by "dues check-off" and how does it benefit all parties?
7. Define a "closed shop."

UNIT 7

Briefly answer the following homework questions on or before Sunday. Your Paper # 3 is also due on Sunday (submit it below).

1. What is integrative bargaining? When does it occur?
2. What are the five "buckets" in a bucket bargaining model?
3. What are AWLMCs? Explain their activities.
4. How do gain-sharing plans benefit both employers and employees?
5. What are the three components of employee involvement and quality-of-work-life programs?
6. Unions adopt one of five reactions to innovative workplace initiatives. What are they?
7. Discuss the impact of workplace restructuring in the last twenty years.
8. Do ESOPs, in themselves, improve productivity? Explain.
9. What are the possible positions concerning individual rights under the contract?
10. Supreme Court decisions on fair representation yield six principles. What are they?
11. How does the steward's personality play a role in grievance resolution?

UNIT 8

Briefly answer the following homework questions on or before SATURDAY.

1. What are the three basic protections for arbitration laid down by the Supreme Court in the Steelworkers' Trilogy?
2. Explain the steps involved in choosing an arbitrator using the American Arbitration Association.
3. Discuss the presentation of the case during the hearing process.
4. What are the factors relating to contract parameters that an arbitrator has to keep in mind while preparing the award?
5. Discuss the public sector labor relations in the states of the union.
6. Write a short note on teacher bargaining laws.
7. Why is bargaining more fragmented in the public sector than in the private sector

RESEARCH PAPERS

Note - Your first research paper is due on Sunday in Unit 3. All we need now is a TOPIC CHOICE. Per your course syllabus, each of your 3 papers must be a minimum of 3 full double-spaced pages and a maximum of 5 pages. You may use your textbook as a source, but you must have a minimum of 3 non-text sources as well. Please document your sources professionally and include a bibliography. A word to the wise -- Quality is paramount, but in most cases a 3 page paper will not be valued as highly as a 4 or 5 page paper.

Select for my approval one of the following topics for your paper # 1 due in Unit 3:

1. Why and How U.S. Labor Unions Seek to Influence Federal, State and Local Politics.
2. How Global Competitiveness Affects Labor/Management Relations.
3. How Right-to-Work Laws Affects Labor/Management Relations.
4. An Analysis of the Proposed Federal Employee Free Choice Act
5. Union Support Craft Jurisdictional Conflict and Restrictive Work Practices
6. How Technology Affects Labor/Management Relations
7. Select a Union and research its history and current status -- the name of the union is required.

Select for my approval one of the following topics for your paper # 2 due unit 5:

1. What is the Stereotypical Image of Unions Today and How is it Affecting Their Organizing Activities?
2. What are the Standard Organizing Strategies and Tactics of Unions Today and How Effective Are They?
3. What are the Standard Union Avoidance Strategies and Tactics Today and How Effective Are They?
4. How and Why Did the U.S. Automobile Industry Need To Be Bailed Out?
5. How Has Global Competition Affected Labor/Management Relations in the U.S.?
6. How Has the Aging of Our U.S. Population Affected Labor/Management Relations?
7. Submit a Topic of Your Choice

1. Select for my approval one of the following topics for your paper # 3 due in unit 7:

1. The Implications of Global Competitiveness on U.S. Unionization
2. The Implications of Generational Culture Changes on U.S. Unionization.
3. The Implications of the Great Recession of 2008 on U.S. Unionization.
4. The Implications of Technological Change on U.S. Unionization.
5. The Implications of Public Sector Unionization on the U.S. Economy.
6. Select a topic of your choosing for my approval.